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THE LIBRARY

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THE UNIVERSITY

OF CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES

FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD
ENDOWMENT FUND

•)C|03 'U01!|30|S

THE

PROJECT.

A P O E M.

DEDICATEDTO i|^

DEAN TUCKER,

Verum, uli, tempejlas, tt exit mohtlis humor ■
Mutavere vias, et Jupiter uvidus Auftris
Dcnfat erant qua rara modo, et qua denfa^ relaxat
Vertuntur fpecies animorum \

VircilJ

THE FOURTH EDITION.

LONDON:

Printed for T. Becket, Adelphi, in the StranP;

M DCC LXXTIII.

[FRICE ONE SHILLING.]

3n^^

D E D I C A 'T I O N.

REVEREND SIR,

T SHOULD not take the liberty to recommend
■■• a mere Poem to your attention, were it not, in
fome degree, JanEijjled by the fubjcd of which it
treats ; and more particularly entitled to your re-
gard from the great purpofe it is defigned to promote
— For the ProjeEl relates to Politics ; that weighty
feience, which, according to your candid conftflion,
is at leaft of equal importance with Religion — And
the objedt it aims at, is the fame with regard to all
our political difputes, as youn avowedly is upon
the 072e great conteft of the prefent times — To cut
off the diftempcred bought was your Projcd ; mi72e
flrikes at the very root of all oppofition.

It was in confequence of an attentive perufal of
your Tra&s^ that I fet myfelf to fearch for this

grand Arcanum. After ranging in vain through

Grotius, Burlamaqui, and Puffendorf, I read thir-
teen books of Montefquieu's Spirit of Laws, with-
out making the leaft difcovery— But at length the
fourteenth book rewarded all my toils— I need not
Tefrefli your memory with the particulars of his
fyftcm upon the relation between climate and na-
tional charader — It would, however, be great prc-
fumption to arrogate to myfelf the merit of a difco-
very, which I owe entirely to the great Montcfquieu
—-It is from that profound Philofophcr that I have
learnt to account for all the variations of temper,,
by the operation of the atmofphere upon the fibres^
and thence on the aSlion^ and re-action of the heart.

By
892218

DEDICATION.

By him 1 have been taught, that the different
proportions of heat or cold produce fimilar degrees
of cowardice or courage — fo that it folel'y depends
upon the latitude^ whether a nation is relaxed into
Turkifli flavery, and braced or hardened to Englifh
freedom — Upon this foundation my Proje(fl is raifed

— which I fubmit to your wifdom and candour

but, as mod Projedors are of a (iuiguine temper,
and, as I own, I entertain no dfuibt of the full fuc-
cefs of my Project, I cannot conclude, without pro-
tefting againft that Nolo Epifcopari which accom-
panied jv^^^trj- — Nothing can be more oppoUte to my
fentiments than your total abjuration of all pofTible
reward for your political labours---On the contrary,
I hereby moft folemnly engage to receive, with
great rcadinefs, any and every honourable recom-
pcnce that thcfe my refearches may lead the King,
Lords, and Commons, in the depth of their wifdom
to beftow on me.

In all other political tenets, believe me,

Riverend Sir^

Your mojl devoted Difciple^

The AUTHOR

THE

PROJECT.

>^ I N C E fage philofophers aver,

That climate forms the charaSier ;

And prove each nation, tame, or bold,

Jufl; as its air is hot or cold ;

What fchemes might crafty ftatefmen lay, 5

If fuch a fyflem they'd obey ?

Siippofe the Turks, v^ho now agree
It wou'd fatigue them to be free.
Should build an ice-houfe, to debate
More cooly on affairs of ftate, 10

Might not fome Muffulmen be brought,
To brace their minds, not fhrink at thought ?

B How,

C 2 ]

How, as their blood began to cool,.

Would nature fcorn defpotic rule ?

The filken Tons of llavifh cafe, l^

Wou'd glow for freedom, while theyyr^^;^^ ;,

And, in porportion to the coldnefs,

Difcover latent fire and boldnefs.

For thus 'tis Montefquieu explains
The power of air upon the veins ; 2.o.

1 he (hort'ning fibres brac'd by cold,
The blood' flics back, the heart grows bold,
Relax'd by heat, their force declines,.
The fpi'rits droop, the being pines :
'Till, quite o'erpow'r'd, the fick'ning foul, 25

Yields to the atmofphere's controul.
Thus air each impulle can impart.
To that thermometzr^ the heart.

Thanks, mighty Jove, thy fovereign care.

Environs us with Northern air !

Our atmofphere to honour leads,

Infpires the breaft to hardy deeds ;

Th

30

[ 3 ]

The heart beats quick ; — the fpirits rife ;

All which our latitude fupplies.

Yet, for extremes ev'n virtue mar, 35,

We fometimes carry ours too far :

When winter winds too chilly pierce,

We grow impatient, wild and fierce ;.

While every fofter virtue flies.

To eentler climes, and milder Ikies. W'

To moderate this hold extreme,

Is oft the philofophic theme ;

Senfe, v/it, and policy combine ;

But ftill too learnedly refine.

The fyftem's plain if well purfued;, 45

We muft corred our latitude.

How many ^tejlions have been loft.

By the houfc meeting in 2ifroft f

The oppofition flock together,

Like fl:rings of wild geefe, in hard weather j 50

Keen, as the blafl: that chills their blood,

They nip each minifterial bud :

The

C 4 ]

The tender bloom of ways and means^

That North with wit and wifdom fcreens,

Too oft their adverfe influence feels, 55

Shrmks from the ftorm, and half congeals ;

That, ev'n in all his blufhing grace,

Righy fcarce thaws them, with — his face.

Whence then, in fpite of fenfe and reafon,
Do ftatefmen choofe this adverfe feafon ? 60

Why not the parliament adjourn,
'Till fummer's^^??/^/y^;^j return ?
But ah, what honeft fquire would flay-
To make \-a% fpeech^ inftead oihayf
The Beaux wou'd fcarcely think of law, 65

To give up Scarborough or Spa :
And fay -^o. J port f men, w^ou'd a member
Attend St. Stephen s in September ?

Winter, flern pow> ! muft flill create
The kindred florms of mad debate ; 70

Still, by the climate's magic pow'r,

Muft p;loomy ftatefmen droop and low'r,

Unlefs

C s ]

Unlefs fome ProjsB we can frame

To fmooth its rage, its rigour tame.

A fimple plan the mufc explains ; 7^

Nor afks a patent for her pains.

In either houfe, below the chairs,
Where Bathurji rules, and Norton glares,
There ftands a table, where they place
The votes the journals, and the mace : 80

" Hence with that bauble !" Cromwell cried ;
And wifely too; 'tis ufelefs pride ;
Hence with it all ! it fills a place
A nobler ornament fhall grace.
Here with capacious bulk, profound 85

As Falftaff's paunch, as Plymouth^ round,
A vafl Buzagio, day by day.
Shall chafe the noxious blails away,
And fpread an artificial glow,

Tho' Palace-yard is wrapt in fnow. — - 90

Around the flame, with veftal pride,
A F ire-Commit ee fhall pr elide,

C Ballotted

r 6 J

Ballottcd by the fame diredions

As Grenville s lottery for eleSiions j

With Nominees^ to feed the fire, 95

And make it fpread, and blaze the higher ;

And Chairme?! more fedately fage,

To quench its too exceflive rage.

The fuel for fuch deep defigns,
Nor fp rings from groves, nor lurks in mines ; 100
Combuftibles for ftate affairs
The prefs more fpeedily prepares ;
The teeming prefs fhall hither fcatter
Rheams of inflammatory matter ;
Here, *' thoughts that glow and words that burn^' 105
To their own element fliall turn j
But, fhifted from their author's aims,
Shall fpread more fdutary flames.

Almon^ by contradl fi'iall provide
The libels vamp' d for either fide, iio^

And fliipulate throughout the feafon
To furnifli proper ftock of treafon.

How

C 7 ]

How bright will the Buzaglo glow,

While heaps of Jujiius blaze below ?

What ardours wil Plain truth difpenfe 115

Fir'd with a page of Common fen/e P

Yet in a moment 'twill be flack'd,

By thrufting in Dean Tucker s traEi ;

A.gain 'tv/ill kindle in a trice,

Refrefh'd with fcraps ofZ)r. Price \

Kow fmoulder flow with clumfy irnoak>

While Johnfo-n^ fogs each paflage choak j

Now hifs, and fp utter, and befmear

The houfe with brimftone of Shehheare.

O flattering hope, whofe gilded ray, 125

Too oft bids raptur'd fancy llray !
1 hy fhadowy forms the mufe deceive.
Or time fhall bid her ProjeB live.
Already, by thy fond prefage,

Her bleft Buzaglo melts the age ; ijo

Relenting Party feels its fway ;
And Fadiou's vapours die away.

Behold

[ 8 ]

Behold the bufy hour approaches,
When chariots, vis-a-vis, and coaches.
Rattle with Jfenators each ftreet in, 135

Impatient for the fiift days meeting :
Mark well what looks ! what anxioos hopes !
Some con their metaphors and tropes ;
Some, more fecure, for fear of flaw,
Hide them beneath their chateaux bras ; 140

Whence, if the treacherous memory halts,
The glancing eye rspairs its faults.

But, lo ! the royal cavalcade !
The trumpet founds ; the fignal's made ;
The Tower-guns tell xhc fpeech begun; 145

They fire again ; — \\\q. fpeech is done.
Now let the full Biczaglo glow !
Spread wide the flame above, below ;
Now, Mo7itefquieu^ thy wifdom fliines ;
Thy fyftem's true, 'tis heat refines : 150

Its genial influence all adore ;
And oppofition is no more. —

From

[ 9 ]
From bench to bench, in fpite of gout,

The foften'd Chatham moves about :

" My good Lord Sandwich^ how d'ye do ? i5S

" I like the fpeech ; 'twas penn'd by you.

** America has gone too far ;

" We mufl: fupport fo juft a war :

** Its better than to put a curb on

" The Spaniard, or the Houfe of Bourbon. 169

*' Good day, my Lord ! I could fay more ;

*' But I mufl; talk to dear Lord Gower.'^

Chac'd is the cloud from Shelhurm\ brows ;

How gracioufly to Bute he bows !

See Camde?i fitting as a friend by 165

Mansfield ! fee Richmo^id clofe to Denbigh ;

Ev'n folid Devo?i/Jjire relents ;

He fmiles and votes with the Contents ;

While Abingdon^ at Markham\ nod,

Kifl'es the magifierial rod.. iy»

Tlieir leaders gone, it follows duly,

The plaftic minds of Corke and Beaulieuy

D With

C 10 J

With half a fcore of filent votes,

Obey the times, and change their notes.

And ah, if Titzroy% whim requires, '^'JS

Ev'n Hmchliff\ eloquence expires !

What wonder then their Lordfiiip's prefs,

Without divifion, the Addrefs f

Now hafte my mufe, at Fancy's fummons,
To try thy Projed: on the Coftimons, i8o

A fecret fympathy efpoufes
The upper and the lower houfes ;
Thus half thy work's already done ;
Where Chatham hobbles, Granhy '11 run.
If Rockingham became a Turky 1S5

How Mahomet wou'd fhine on Burke f
He'd fend him his enlight'ning pidgeon :

For party zeal is Burkes, religion.
But fome ihere are of firmer frame ;

For them mull the Buzaglo flame : *9°

Grenvllle^ with ftubborn fenfe endued ;

Saville but lives for public good.

Yet

[ II 3

Yet if ambition, or the weather

Some gloomy difcontcnt fliould gather,

The temper d air fliall chafe offence; 19S

And blend pood humour with o-ood fenfe.

o o

Behold at length ev'n Barrc foften !

" I rife to oppof:," He murmured often :

But finding that, he knows not how,

Reludrant praife his words allow, *P.o

The hardy veteran fits him down ;

Yet gives the Treajury Bench a frown.

Now mark the State/men of the City f

Hark, Tf^ilkes grows civil ! Hayley witty 1

Sawbjndge^ fo chang'd the fcene appears, 205

Confents to keep his feat feven years ;

Ev'n Bull^ the favage Bull^ looks tame !

And melts before the conq'ring flame.

Not fo the Lutir ell's, ; in dcfpair
The clamr o'ls barxd bcfie^e the chair. axo

" IbuM, I bu a," old IrnhajTi cr' .:
Th . Colonel drinka tb ■ Projtcl wife;

But

E 12 ]

But yack and Jemmy jointly pledge

Themfelves, 'tis breach of privilege ;

And Temple^ Greece and Rome can hawk in, 215

Againft this barb'rous flop to talking :

In vain ; the Houfe enjoy th' efFed

And the Buzaglo all proted.

But Foxy more warily, to gain

His dear delight to rail again, 22*

Moft humbly moves, fince they approve

This potent wonder-working ftove,

Left fome unfeen mifchance enfue.

They'd have a Ventilator too.

Tho' plaufible his Project fails ; 225

Thine, happy Mufe, alone prevails.

The vanquifh'd Charles to Ahnach\ fled.

The speech is prais'd : the Addrcfs is read :

The ^lejlion carried nemine con :

The //"(jz^' is up : the bufmefs done. 230

N I S.

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